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Space Topics: Rosetta

Mission Objectives

Rosetta’s primary objectives are to rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, making observations as the comet becomes more active on its journey towards the Sun, and then deliver Philae, the lander, to the nucleus for the first ever controlled landing on a comet. 
Rosetta carries a suite of 11 instruments on the comet orbiter and 10 on Philae, which will drill into the surface and take measurements. Along the way on its 10 year journey, Rosetta will flyby, the team believes, at least one asteroid.
In order to answer the big questions -- the origin of comets, the relationship between cometary and interstellar material and its implications with regard to the origin of the solar system, and the physical properties of any asteroids it may pass, Rosetta will use its instruments to:

  • globally characterize the nucleus, determine dynamic properties, surface morphology and composition
  • determine the chemical, mineralogical, and isotopic compositions of volatiles and refractories in a cometary nucleus
  • determine the physical properties and interrelation of volatiles and refractories in a cometary nucleus
  • study of the development of cometary activity and the processes in the surface layer of the nucleus and the inner coma (dust/gas interaction)
  • globally characterize asteroids, including determination of dynamic properties, surface morphology and composition

Rosetta's lander payload, Philae, will study the composition and structure of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's nucleus with 10 instruments designed to:

  • measure the elemental, molecular, mineralogical, and isotopic composition of the comet's surface and subsurface material
  • measure characteristics of the nucleus such as near-surface strength, density, texture, porosity, ice phases and thermal properties; texture measurements will include microscopic studies of individual grains

Philae also carries a Sampling Drilling and Distribution device (SD2), which will drill more than 20 centimeters/8 inches into the surface, collect samples, and deposit them in different 'ovens' or deliver them for microscope inspection.